Summer of Sam
Adapted from a screenplay co-written by Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos' Christopher Moltisanti), director Spike Lee draws on a specific historical moment - the summer of 1977 in New York City, marked by a heatwave, a blackout and the violent exploits of serial killer David Berkowitz (aka 'Son of Sam') - to explore deeper cultural anxieties.
The drama of that summer is played out against a growing divide between neighbourhood buddies Vinny (John Leguizamo), a self-styled Tony Manero, and Richie (Adrien Brody), who reinvents himself as a punk.
Composer Terence Blanchard captures the nervous energy of a city under siege in his sensual, urgent score, which acts as a sharp counterpart to the pulsating disco music that permeates throughout the film.
